High school for Bruno Gallegos Sanchez and the rest of the Class of 2022 was unexpected.
Addressing graduates Saturday, Gallegos Sanchez said students likely didn’t imagine that they would spend part of their high school career trying to figure out how to make a COVID-19 mask fashionable and navigating a network of online learning tools and virtual classrooms, while pretending not to be in pajamas.
Approximately 2,000 students are graduating from St. Vrain Valley School District this week, all of them looking toward their unique futures.
Diana Garcia Garcia, a senior at Skyline High School, has already graduated from Front Range Community College. A Pathways in Technology Early College High School student, Garcia Garcia earned her associate degree with a focus on programming along with her high school diploma in four years.
Meet just a few of our approximately 2,000 outstanding graduates who will walk across a stage this week to receive their St. Vrain Valley Schools diploma. Congratulations to all students in the Class of 2022!
Ashlee Lovett
Forensic Psychology, Ball State University
What makes your high school unique?
What makes Erie High School unique is the tight knit community of people that not only exists within the building but all around the town of Erie. It is truly amazing to see all of the returning alumni that come back to support the legacy they have built during their time at EHS. Furthermore, the staff at EHS goes out of their way to recognize each student for who they are as a human and there is always a positive collective of support from our student body towards all of our co-curricular, athletic, performing arts, and unified programs that you won’t find anywhere else.
John Pastore
Why should a student want to attend Erie High School?
A student should attend Erie High School because it has a small town feel to it. The opportunities here at Erie are endless because of the wide variety of classes and clubs they offer. The teachers and staff are excited and passionate about what they do and it reflects onto the students.
Grace Rowberry
Music Education, Brigham Young University Provo
How has your school’s focus program prepared you for postsecondary success?
Erie High School’s performing arts program has done so much to prepare me for post-secondary success. I have had many opportunities to participate in District and Allstate choirs which has definitely improved my musicianship. Mrs. Burd has especially been a huge mentor for me and it is because of all the amazing experiences that I have had through this program, that I have decided to make music education a part of my future career.
Sophia Meza
Business Management/Administration with a minor in Interdisciplinary Studies, San Diego State University
How has your school’s focus program prepared you for postsecondary success?
Being able to participate in Frederick’s CU Succeed program as well as take other AP/honors classes has greatly set me up for success in the college world. I am fortunate enough to be graduating with a little over 30 college credits and am very confident in my ability to be successful with course loads and content for next year after being able to experience so many college-level classes as a high school student.
Levi Friss
Biomedical Science, Colorado State University
Why should a student want to attend your high school?
Despite having the connotations of a small town school, I believe that Frederick High School has the same appeal as a small college. The class sizes are intimate and detailed, there is a strong sense of community across classes, sports, and extracurricular activities, which makes being a student here very special.
Yennifer Solorzano Valles
Dental Hygiene, Community College of Denver
What makes your high school unique?
The teachers at Frederick High School make my school unique. They are dedicated, hardworking, and passionate. They provide every student the support they need to become successful.
Connor McCormick
Mechanical Engineering/Computer Science, Princeton University
What’s a favorite memory from your time at St. Vrain?
Spending each day with the people who I’ve grown to love. Whether it be at a certain event or just day-to day school, the people have made everything so much more fun.
Zaynah Khan
Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder
How has your school’s focus program prepared you for postsecondary success?
As a student at Longmont High School, I am a proud member of the Medical BioScience (MBSA) program. Growing up, I always knew that I wanted to pursue a career in the medical field, and Longmont High School’s focus programs reinforced my interests and passions. In this program, I gained a tremendous amount of knowledge in the sector of healthcare, participated in hands-on activities, as well as enrolling into classes that provide me with an understanding of different healthcare fields, like Forensic Science, Biotechnology, Nutrition and Wellness, etc. Additionally, I had the opportunity to complete my Senior MBSA Internship, which allowed me to research a topic I am incredibly passionate about. Not only did the MBSA program offer me insight into healthcare and academia, the MBSA coordinators are beyond wonderful.
Bruno Gallegos Sanchez
Why should a student want to attend your high school?
Longmont High School has a community that bolsters the aspiration of its students’ many diverse interests. Although some of the programs and/or clubs may be small, while others are large and take the center stage, they all coexist at Longmont High. Looking for what you’re passionate about can take some time and there is much to explore in the four years of high school. What better way to explore than to have a plethora of options from school athletics to the Medical Bioscience Academy, SMART team, and all sorts of clubs. Whether you know what you’re passionate about or not, you can develop that passion or find a new one.
Arjen Wynja
Music Education, Colorado State University
What advice would you give to students entering high school next year?
You can learn from any situation. From the first day of school to graduation, cherish every learning experience, every community experience with your peers, time with your friends, and special school events. For many, high school is where you learn who you are, so hold nothing back. It’s up to you to maximize your education. It’s up to you to maximize the relationships you build during this crazy time of your life you’re about to enter. Make the most of every individual thing you do, because this is where you build your life.
Maya Sol Rooney
Greek, Latin, and Ancient Mediterranean studies with a minor in Film and Media studies, Reed College
What makes your high school unique?
We have a strong mindset to accompany how small Lyons High School is. We have a close community where students know everyone in the high school and all the teachers. Our education is in our own hands and we can go to teachers for help because there are so few other students.
Cody Saunders
Electrical Engineering, Colorado State University
What’s a favorite memory from your time at St. Vrain?
During my time at St. Vrain, I enjoyed being able to play on the Longmont High School golf team while still pursuing my academics at Lyons High School.
Greta Richardson
Dartmouth College
Why should a student want to attend your high schools?
The Mead High School community is amazing. I have always felt so much support from my classmates and teachers throughout my four years. There are so many opportunities that students can take advantage of, with sports, performance, clubs, and the variety of classes offered both through the school itself, the Innovation Center, and the Career Elevation and Technology Center.
DJ Vicente
Journalism and Media Communications, Colorado State University
What advice would you give to students entering high school next year?
One piece of advice I’d give to incoming high school students is to keep an open mind when trying to navigate through high school. It’s a totally new environment, but over time, I can guarantee you will find something you will become incredibly passionate about, so stick with it.
Quincey Coyle
What makes your high school unique?
We have really good sports but it doesn’t take away from school at all. We have very successful students academically and athletically.
Jeanne Gochenour
Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Northern Colorado
How has your school’s focus program prepared you for postsecondary success?
This school has shown me that I can accomplish anything that I wish to accomplish. The support I have received through every class has been astonishing. I am currently taking an AP Psychology class and a Social Justice class at MSU Denver through my school. These classes have prepared me for more college-level courses and have given me a glimpse at what I will need to do and the effort I will need to put forward once I am in college. This school also pushes students to reach their full potential by having many college-based events, such as tours, application days, etc.
Christian Bernal
What makes your high school unique?
The size of our school is unique. We are a small school and it feels like a family. Everyone here is treated with respect and accepted by our community.
Leah Arens
Psychology or Pre-Law, Undecided
Why should a student want to attend your high school?
A student should want to attend New Meridian High School because the community is welcoming and the students are respectful. We all have backgrounds that are entirely different, which pulls us together. The teachers are the most helpful advisors ever, and they make you feel wanted in our community.
Eilene Heo
Psychology, Fordham University
What’s a favorite memory from your time at St. Vrain?
My favorite memory was when we were at a track meet for the indoor season, and I had been training very hard to work on my jumps form. When it was my turn to do a jump, I remembered all that my coaches had told me, and I went for the jump. When I made it into the pit, my coach looked so excited since I had just jumped a foot further than I had ever jumped. Afterward, my teammates and schoolmates congratulated me, which just showed the great support I had in St. Vrain.
Zane Bergen
Stanford University
Why should a student want to attend your high school?
“Niwot High School, Home of the Champions”… As you enter our commons, the hefty learning stairs, or the maze of seemingly endless hallways, they may overwhelm you. At the end of these hallways and stairs lies opportunities to grow, learn, and become a champion, a Niwot High School Champion. Not just a champion of sports or academics; a person devoted to bettering themselves and the people around them with the goal of making the world a better place, a champion of life. Any student who aspires to be a Niwot High School Champion, simply has to enter the gates to the hefty stairs and endless hallways.
Tasman Moskowitz
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University
How has your school’s focus program prepared you for postsecondary success?
I believe that the IB Diploma Program has prepared me for success, because it has raised my expectations for myself surrounding the quality of work that I produce. Just the nature of IB classes in which you have to complete internal assessments and prepare for exams, forces you to hold yourself accountable for always engaging in classes and actually learning all of the content in detail. I know that when I have a difficult class in college I will be successful in managing my time, producing quality writing assignments, and completing difficult exams thanks to the skills that I have learned in IB.
Aiden Lathrope
Business, University of Colorado Boulder
What’s your favorite memory from your time at St. Vrain?
My senior capstone project, Smart Cart, for Silver Creek Leadership Academy marks some of my favorite memories within the district. This program allowed me to teach something I love, nutrition, to a receptive group of sixth grade students at Altona. In and out of class, the project required constant time, devotion, gathering donations, printing and designing recipes, and structuring lesson plans. I enjoyed every second of it. I never left the classroom unhappy with how things went, only with ideas on how to improve. Taking a class that allows you to do something unique that you have a passion for is incredibly rare but incredibly rewarding.
Sierra Bindseil
Mechanical Engineering, California Polytechnic State University
How has your school’s focus program prepared you for postsecondary success?
Throughout my four years in the SCLA program, I have learned how to be a more confident public speaker, how to empathize with the needs of my community, and how to be successful in project management. I have recently finished working on my Senior Leadership Capstone, where I collaborated with sixth grade technology classes to develop lessons on women in engineering and technology to inspire younger girls to get involved in such a male-dominated field. I know that I will use these valuable experiences to be an effective leader in my post-secondary education.
Adithya Bhaskara
Computer Science & Mathematics, University of Colorado Boulder
Why should a student want to attend your high school?
Silver Creek High School is a sea of opportunities for all students. At Silver Creek, students of various backgrounds, varying interests, and different approaches to learning will all succeed in their own ways. Students may participate in rigorous AP courses; esteemed orchestras, bands, and choirs; reputed leadership opportunities; trailblazing programs in computer science, cybersecurity, and business; and highly regarded athletics programs. At Silver Creek High School, there is something for everyone.
Diana Garcia Garcia
Biological – Science Integrated Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder
What makes your high school unique?
What makes Skyline High School so unique is the family that you go into. The community here is so diverse, and everyone is offered the same great opportunities.
Cameron Piggot
Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder
Why should a student want to attend your high school?
With so many programs including STEM, FalconTECH, VPA, and more, there are a lot of opportunities to strengthen your college readiness or feel more prepared for your postgraduate plans. Another reason students should attend Skyline is the opportunity for an individualized path to graduate. For example, I am a STEM student, but I have also had the chance to complete 12 AP courses and take additional elective classes of interest.
Erin Elwood
Nursing, University of Northern Colorado
How has your school’s focus program prepared you for postsecondary success?
During my time at Skyline I have been involved in our school’s STEM program. This program has helped me prepare for my postsecondary success because not only has it helped me decide what I want to pursue and helped me find my interests and disinterests, but it has also given me so many experiences from hands-on experiences to group collaborations to even public speaking/presentation experiences which will be so useful after I graduate.
Kartik Naraya
Physics, Mathematics, Philosophy (minor), University of Colorado Boulder / California Institute of Technology
Why should a student want to attend your high school?
St. Vrain Virtual High School lets the student guide more of their school experience, and set their own pace. Furthermore, it offers this virtually, and has many exceptions and very understanding staff for any sort of extracurricular or medical exception. They have many excellent support systems in place, and the one goal is to ensure you graduate. If you want to chart your own path through high school, SVVHS is for you!
Avery Kinzle
Behavioral Science Psychology, Baylor University
What advice would you give to students entering high school next year?
My advice to students entering high school next year is to enjoy every moment of it because it flies by. From every challenge to every time you hang out with your friends, make the best of it, because you are in control of how good your high school years are.
Sam Dorschel
Nursing, University of San Francisco
What makes your high school unique?
What makes St. Vrain Virtual High School unique is the connection that the students have with their counselors. They do their best to accommodate all of the students’ needs, and they are really helpful in honestly any part of a students life. Whether that is sports, family issues, school, etc. The counselors take the time to make sure that every student is going to be successful in whatever they do.
Caleb Ellis
Communications, University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Why should a student want to attend your high school?
APEX Homeschool Program has always focused on hiring amazing people as teachers. I have always seen how much love the teachers have for teaching and reaching out to their students. A smaller school means a very close community. Everyone knows everyone and the smaller student population means that in each class the teacher can really get to know you.
Tegan Chanders
Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder
What makes your high school unique?
Being a small school and having outstanding teachers and staff allows students to customize their education, making it more interesting and efficient for them. APEX’s unique position as an enrichment program also allows teachers to focus on what the students want to learn, which truly enriches the students’ homeschool education.
Matthew Fuller
Computer Science, University of Colorado Colorado Springs
How has your school’s focus program prepared you for postsecondary success?
In my time at APEX Homeschool Program I took three of the AP courses that APEX offered, and I have nothing but praise for them. As such I would say that APEX has prepared me incredibly well for postsecondary success, both helping me become more capable of expressing myself in terms of the written word, and offering concurrent enrollment classes allowing me to be entering college with two full semesters of credits already done.
Esperanza Carillo
Why should a student want to attend your high school?
The teachers at LaunchED Virtual Academy are very understanding about individual life situations and care very much about their students. We are able to build our own personal bond with our teachers.
Dilan Najera
How has your school prepared you for postsecondary success?
The LaunchED Virtual Academy counselors are always there to help, and our teachers are very supportive and even though you don’t know anyone very well, it still feel close like we are in an in-person learning community. Teachers are very straightforward with the lessons, giving us time to do it, and they always push us on the right track.
Kassandra Mudgette
Film, Undecided
What’s your favorite memory form your time at St. Vrain?
Middle School with my Special Education teacher. He made middle school fun for me and helped me pick my future path in film.
See where our 4.0+ graduates are attending college in the fall.
Dear Class of 2022 and Families,
As we move toward the end of another outstanding school year, it is an honor to recognize the unwavering drive, strength of character, and rigorous academic preparation that has propelled approximately 2,000 students to the day of their high school graduation. The thunderous applause these students will receive as they walk across the stage to receive their diploma is not only a testament to their academic achievements, but a symbol of our community’s enduring commitment to the continued success of our students, teachers, staff, parents, and community.
From the time our 2022 graduates entered preschool in 2008 through today, they have been faced with both significant challenges and great opportunities. It is through these experiences that our students have built a strong foundation from which they will launch into the next chapter of their lives.
This class of St. Vrain Valley graduates – and the families, teachers, staff, neighbors, friends, and communities who have championed their success – have played a critical role in shaping the high-quality education and extraordinary learning opportunities afforded to every student in our district. As St. Vrain Valley Schools has grown over the past decade, we have continued to design learning systems that will ensure our students are successful and engaged citizens in our complex, highly-competitive globalized world. We are preparing our students for their future by giving them a strong competitive advantage, and cultivating a drive for learning and continued growth.
Today’s students and tomorrow’s workforce demand an education that is rooted in rigorous traditional academics while also leveraging modern, cutting-edge robust technologies and many opportunities to create a truly personalized educational experience. Toward this end, the Class of 2022 has advanced their skills through enrollment in high-quality instructional focus academics in Biomedical Sciences, Energy, Engineering and Aerospace, Medical and BioScience, Leadership, STEM, Visual and Performing Arts, Pathways to Teaching (P-TEACH), Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH), and more. They have been connected to the best technology and learning resources through our 1:1 technology initiative and nationally recognized Learning Technology Plan. They have been highly engaged in their school communities and extended learning beyond the school day through the arts, music, athletics, advanced career and technology programs, and other quality co-curricular activities. Through all of this, they have also become highly engaged and caring citizens who remain focused on building stronger, healthier communities and advancing our society.
Our graduates enrolled in a record number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and concurrent enrollment college courses, giving them the opportunity to start their postsecondary education with approximately 21,000 college credits on their transcripts, potentially saving their families $5.3 million in tuition costs. Our graduating seniors have also received numerous recognitions for their academic achievements, talents, and innovative ideas, including: Boettcher Scholarships; Daniels Scholarships; National Merit semifinalists and finalists; All-State athletes; All-State musicians; and thousands of college acceptance letters from institutions across the country including many Ivy League schools, military academies, and other highly competitive colleges and universities. We are incredibly proud of what our students have accomplished in a time of increasing academic rigor, expanding graduation requirements, and the highest expectations of leadership, community and citizenship.
Public education is one of the most powerful systems for driving positive change in our society.
Across the United States, over 90 percent of our nation’s children attend a public school, and in the St. Vrain Valley, that percentage is even higher. With the future success of our community and nation dependent on the quality of our public schools, we have no greater responsibility than ensuring every child in our community receives a rigorous, engaging, and high-quality education. To this end, it is an honor to stand alongside our Board of Education, teachers, staff, parents, administrators, and other community partners to celebrate the Class of 2022 and recognize their high levels of success.
Lastly, I want to share my heartfelt gratitude to all of our seniors and wish you the very best in life. Our schools will forever be strengthened by your time in our community – you are truly a class of compassionate, dedicated, intelligent, and outstanding people who will boldly lead our country into the future.
Sincerely,
Don Haddad, Ed.D.
Superintendent, St. Vrain Valley Schools
Skyline High’s Adrian Mendez graduated from Front Range Community College with an associate’s degree in computer information systems about two weeks before his high school graduation.
“I see computer science as the new generation,” he said. “It’s the future.”
Mendez is part of the third graduating class from the Longmont school’s P-TECH — Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools — program.
In a paddock with horses, skiing down a mountain and going on a hike are just some of the virtual reality videos that St. Vrain students have created over the past year.
The UCHealth Neuroscience VR project team showcased their work on Wednesday at the Innovation Center. Rendever, a virtual reality company focused on senior living communities and health care settings, and UCHealth have served as mentors to students for this project.
St. Vrain students spent Friday at the Denver Zoo educating students from across Colorado about the northern redbelly dace.
The Denver Zoo invited the St. Vrain Valley School District to celebrate the work students at the district are doing to help implement the reintroduction of the endangered fish species to the St. Vrain River in honor of National Endangered Species Day.
This May, third grade students at Black Rock Elementary have been learning important business skills through this year’s iteration of their Mini-Society program. This year’s Mini-Society, the Mini Makers, is teaching students many economic concepts and immersing them in a school-wide marketplace.
“They are learning all sorts of facets of economics – wants/needs, supply and demand, consumer/producer, and profit/loss,” says Black Rock Elementary third grade teacher, Heidi Crampsey. “Students also showcase their creativity and practice teamwork through designing, marketing, and selling products.”
Currency in the Mini Makers society consists of $1, $5, $10, $20, and $50 bills that feature the Mini Makers logo. Students throughout the school earn or lose money based on completing their daily jobs and their other actions and choices throughout the day.
The students came up with the Mini Makers society name as a group, then created and voted on a flag to represent their group. Students designed and made their products at home, before bringing in a sample of their product to receive feedback from their peers. After going through the market survey process and incorporating feedback, students produced samples of their product to sell. One student made bouncy balls at home to sell at Market Day.
“I built more than 80 bouncy balls at home,” says third grade Black Rock Elementary student TJ Evans. “It was super fun and I made $2,500!”
In the buildup to Market Day, which ran from May 9-13, the third graders advertised their products throughout the school, building excitement for the other grades. The students also practiced their math and entrepreneurial skills as they accounted for living expenses, added up their weekly earnings, purchased advertisements, applied for a business license, and rented a space in the classroom to sell their products.
“The kids had so much fun making their products and selling them,” says Black Rock Elementary Principal, Sherry Carter. “There was some jewelry, origami, a lot of stress balls, a little wooden ring toss game, a dice-rolling game, and little airplanes and cars.”
All these experiences give students real-world insight into what it takes to own a business.
“They have a list of daily jobs they must do, then fill out their job chart,” says Crampsey. “They have to learn to count their money, and on selling days they must know how to make change for their customers. Students also have learned how to advertise and be persuasive to convince other students to come to their ‘store’ and purchase goods.”
“Students come into third grade looking forward to Mini-Society from the day school starts,” says Crampsey. “It’s definitely a highlight!”
For Timberline PK-8 sixth grade students participating in the Ad Astra Colorado Program, this spring has been one to remember. Partnering with the University of Colorado Boulder’s new Space Science Outreach Program, the Ad Astra Colorado Program gives students the opportunity to have more hands-on experience in science.
Students have participated in numerous experiments, received mentorship from University of Colorado Boulder students, and had the unique opportunity to speak with NASA representatives throughout the three-weekend long program. For some, it was an opportunity to spend some extra time with friends while learning about new topics.
“It was fun getting to see my friends, but I also learned to use math and science in a lot of different ways,” shared Sophia Sanchez, sixth grade student at Timberline PK-8. “I would definitely do it again if I could next year.”
For Ms. Sanger, it was important for the program to tie in with what students were already learning in her class. “When we began planning for this in March, I wanted to make sure that the curriculum aligned to what I was teaching them,” explains Sanger. “Because they were already learning about earth science and the solar system in class, this program allowed them to have a better understanding of what they were already learning in their classroom.”
Students got to hear first-hand from NASA employees about the type of missions they go on, and the experiments they work on. For Saryn Luther, sixth grade student at Timberline PK-8, it was more than just learning about their work. “They talked to us about the different career paths and choices we have, that was really interesting,” says Luther.
For other students like James Flores, this program made him like science even more. “I really enjoyed it because I learned more about science, and my teacher was able to teach us about the same topics in class. That was cool.”
